Automatic headlight control.



F. W. OPP. AUToMATiC HEADLIGHT CONTROL.

APPLlCAlON FILED FEB.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- Pat'ontf June 1916.

at will.

necting arms 39 and l0 have balls 42 which enter the socket J(1; and a certain amount ot looseness is prov1ded for each ball 1n \the. socket so that the movement herein described of the reflector may take place. Longitudinal slip-joints 39 and 40 are also provided in the arms 3f) and 40. It will be noted that Vthe armatures 38 have relatively short movement when attracted by the magnets 36 and that armatures 3T have a relatively longer movement when attracted by their electro-nnignets 35. dien it is dcsired to displace the reflector :225 slightly from its normal position. either one or the other ot' magnets 3G is energized: while for a longer n'iovement in either direction either one or the other of' magnets 35 is energized. The mechanism of energization is illustrated best in the diagram of Fig. 5. l may mount a suitable commutator on the shaft 15 and this commutator 70 may have four contacts 41. l2, 43, 4l. Two brushes 45 anillo may engage the contacts as the commutator is rotated. ln the normal position of the commutator. corresponding to the normal straight ahead position ofthe steering mech anism of the vehicle. neither of the brushes engages a-n v ot' the contacts. Suppose now that the steering gear is turned so as to turn the vehicle. to the right. ln the present described arrangement this would turn the commutattn' in the direction indicated and would inimediately eneage the contact H with hrush lli. Current would then flow from the battcrv 4T through wireJfSJvii'elSln-ush 40, wire 5() to electro-magnet fifi positioned onthc left in Fig. 4 which would immediately cause the displacement of the reflector 23 in the direction indicated and would cause projection of light to the right. Fur ther movement of the Steering mechanism would cause engagement of the contact 43 with the brush 40 and would cause passage of' current through wire 51 to magnet 35 positioned on the lett in Fig. 4. which would cause further movement ol' the reflector in the direction indicated. and cause the light to be projected farther to the right. On contrary motion of the steering mechanism, contacts l1 and l2 would be respectively engaged with brush 45 and current would be successively sent through wires 52 and 53 to the electroemagnets 3G and 35 on that side, causing displacement of the reflector in a direction opposite to that indicated and causing the projection of thel light to the left. l may provide suit-able push buttons or suitable switches, connected between wire 4S aud wires 51 and 53 as shown at 55: whereby the driver may cause either of the magnets 35 to be energized and cause the light to be thrown either to right or left (ommon Wire 54 leads back from the. electro-magnets to the batteryl In Figs. G. 7 and `8 l have shown a n1odified form of device. Here the parts are substantially as before explained excepting that the mafmets 35 and 3G are displaced by a pair ol' double wound solenoids Gf). llach solenoid has two windings 351 and fifi, and a single armature core 3T is acted upon by all four windings. The stud 41 projecting from the reflector connects directly with the core 37h so that movement of the core directly causes movement et the reflector. lluergization of either of windings il" will cause a small displaccnwnt of the lens; energization of either dindin '35 will cause a larger displacement. lhiergization is' effected substantially as En `yefore de' scribed and as indicated in the diagram of Fig. 8.

These typical embodiments of my invention serve to show the scope thereof. My invention is not limited to the precise details herein explained, which may be varied to suit conditions.

l claim` 1. A headlight, comprising a body,` a source of illumination, a reflector mounted on a verti-al pivot, magnetic means for slightly displacing the lens in either direction of rotation, and magnetic means for further displacing the lens in either direction of rotation.

2. ln combination, a vehicle with steering mechanism, a headlight, comprising a body, a source of illumination, a reflector mounted on a vertical pivot, magnetic means for slightly displacing the reflector in either direction ot' rotation, and magnetic means for further displacing the reflector in either direction of rotation and means cooperating with the steering mechanism for first energizing the first mentioned electro-magnetic means and then energizing the second mentioned electro-magnetic means as the steering mechanism is displaced in either direction from Anormal position.

3. ln combination", a headlight comprising a body, a source oillumination therein, a pivotally mounted'reflec'tor adjacent the illumination source, electro-magnetic means for slightly displacing the reflector about its pivot. electro-magnetic means for fur` ther displacing the reflector about its pivot, and means for energizing either electro-magnetic means.

4. In combination, a vehicle with steering mechanism, a headlight comprising a body, a source of illumination therein, a pivotally mounted reflector adjacent the illumination source, electro-magnetic means for slightly displacing the reflector about its pivot.` electro-magnetic means for further displacing the reflector about its pivot; and means for successively energizing said electro-magnetic means comprising means for energizing the first mentioned electro-magnetic means and then energizing said second energized will mentioned electro-magnetic means: as the steering mechanism is turned from normal position.

5. In coinhination. a vehicle with steeringr mechanism, a headlight with a soin-ee of illumination aml a reiieetor movalily monnted behind the som-ee. means for slightly (lisplacing the reflector to retiect the light from the source slighf.` to one side ot' its normal line of refiection. merlin.; to further (lienlaee the refiector to reliect the light from the. source farther from ite4 normal line ot' reflectionr` and means to successively actnate said retleetor displacing means ab* the rat-ees ing mechanism is tin-ned from iti; nornial ,noA sition embodying means for energizing the firSt mentioned means when the steering mechanism is turned slightly and 'or energizing the second mentioned means when the steerinig:r mechanisni is turned farther.

6, 1in combination with a vehicle havingI Steering ineehanim. av headlight with a Source of illumination and a reflector movable t0 retient the light to one side of itif. normal line o' reflection. meansv which when more the reflector immediately ani. suddenly to a Certain {lelinite position in which it relieetw the li'wnt to one side, and mean4 artnateil ln' the k.teering niechaizisin after it hrw. heen tin-neil tiirfnigh :i0 a certain nreileterinined movement to enea gire said i'clieetor niiiwinej nieanr.

T. .ln combinaion with a vehiele inning steering; inerfhaniam. a iiemiiigfh withl a sonreir ol' ill :urination anil a milwloi' mov alileoreiiectlhe lighttonnef4iiliiii'il-r1inirmal line ol relleetioin electiva-n i means; which when ern-iniziai will fr.A rellecto iininediateilA .nal einlienl'x in ,i tain ill/finite in .i in which it n light to one .shim unil niea rswiteh ailiaanarl hf; flay ,\'i\.1f'iii; after il liar, heen tni'nwi throng?! pi'efleteiinineil moiement to rell t ir naming means;

in witnefvwl that l claim the lir'egoiiig! l ha we lierennto nahezu-Shell my naine this; i231! lay of JanuariY lll l. l

L. lhiifi-Limx. 

